Arch support



Dec. 23, 1947.

c. c. r-:DINGER 2,433,034

ARCH SUPPORT Filed DeG. 27, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 23, 1947. v C, EDINGER I 2,433,034

ARCH SUPPORT Filed Dec. 27, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY MW Patented Dec. 23, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to arch supports and has particular reference to an improved support adapted to be disposed in overlying relation upon the insole of a shoe for supporting the longitudinal and metatarsal arches of the foot.

The invention comprehends an arch support including a base adapted to overlie the heel, shank and forepart of the insole of a shoe and which is maintained in resilient arched formation by leaf spring members extending longitudinally thereof adjacent the opposite side edges in underlying relation with the inner and outer longitudinal arches of the foot and which base is also provided with resilient supporting pads disposed thereupon and underlying the inner and metatarsal arches of the foot.

The invention further comprehends the provision of an arch support having a transversely extending forwardly tapered bar located at the forward ends of the longitudinally extending spring members and underlying the metatarsal arch for shifting the weight from the metatarsal arch to a point slightly posterior thereof.

The invention further has in view the provision of a resilient pocket in the base of the arch support which forms a cushion underlying a painful region or malformation of the foot for relieving the pressure thereon.

With the foregoing and other objects in view reference is now made to the following specication and accompanying drawings in which the preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an arch support constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom View thereof with portions of the bottom plies removed to illustrate the underlying parts.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken approximately on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View taken approximately on line 4--4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a similar view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of an arch support ennbodyincr a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a bottom view with parts of the lower tply removed to illustrate the underlying construcion. -Fig 8 is a longitudinal sectional View taken approximately on line 3-8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on line 9--9 of Fig. '7.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference and more particularly to the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the arch support includes a base I0 fashioned of leather or equivalent fibrous material and which is co-extensive with and is adapted to overlie the heel, shank and fore-part of the insole with the forward end thereof terminating slightly posterior of the bones forming the metatarsal heads of the foot.

The base I0 is maintained in longitudinal arched formation by means of longitudinally bowedleaf springs II and I2 secured at their opposite ends by rivets I3 or other fastening means to the underside of the base and which leaf springs have their forward ends covered by a transversely extending exible strip 9. The said springs extend from the juncture of the heel and shank of the sole of the shoe forwardly along the opposite side edges of the base in underlying relation with the inner and outer longitudinal arches of the foot with the forward ends of said springs terminating on a transverse line extending medially under the metatarsal arch,

The base Iil is provided with a pocket adapted to underlie and form a cushion for relieving the pressure on any painful region or malformation of the bones of the foot such as the heel bone. As illustrated, the heel portion I4 of the base I0 is formed with an opening I5 of circular formation which is located vertically under the painful region of malformation of the bone of the foot. Upper and lower plies I5 and Il are adhesively secured to the opposite faces of the heel portion I4 and filling said opening I5 is a padil of resilient compressible material such as particles or granules of rubber adhesively secured together and to the upper and lower plies I6 and I1. The said pad forms a cushion between the upper and lower plies I6 and Il which resiliently supports the painful region or malformation of the foot while the weight of the foot as in standing or walking is disposed on the area of the heel portion I4 surrounding the opening I5. Y

The baseV I0 is inwardly recessed along the inner edge thereof as at I9 forwardly of the heel portion thereof so that the same conforms to the shape of the shank portion of the shoe. Secured upon the upper face of the base Il] for supporting the inner longitudinal arch of the foot is a semicircular pad 20 preferably of soft compressible material such as rubber, felt or the like but which may also be of leather, cork or non-compressible material if desired. The pad 20 is formed with a longitudinally convex upper surface the highest DOint of which is located substantially medial of the inner longitudinal arch of the foot. The said pad projects outwardly beyond the recessed edge I9 of the base and slopes from the highest portion thereof towards the semicircular edge thereof.

A pad 2! having a convex upper face is also provided for supporting the metatarsal arch of the foot which pad is composed of soft compressible material such as rubber, felt or the like and is adhesively secured upon the upper surface of the base lil with the forward edge of the pad disposed slightly posterior of the bones forming the metatarsal heads of the foot. The forward edge of said pad is of general arcuate formation and merges with the lateral outer edge thereof which is curved rearwardly and inwardly to a point extending through the longitudinal medial line of the base, the opposite inner lateral side edge merging with the forward and opposite outer side edges to define a pad of general triangular shapev with the inner lateral side edge thereof being recessed inwardly as at 22.

The arch support also includes upper and lower plies 23 and 213 the former preferably consisting of a sheet of fabrikoid which conforms to the general shape of .the inner sole of the shoe and is adhesively secured upon the base l@ and the pads ZE! and 2l with the forward rounded end thereof terminating posteriorly of the toes of the foot. The lower ply 24 is preferably formed of a softer material such as suede and is adhesively secured upon the lower surface of the base lo and upon the lower ply il of the heel portion thereof and forms a covering between the leaf springs ll and I2 and the inner sole of the shoe.

As illustrated in the drawings the arch support is adapted to be inserted in a shoe for the left foot, the arch Support for the right shoe mating therewith and the pads and 2| being correspondingly positioned with reference to the inner side edge thereof.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive the arch support includes a oase 25 which is coextensive with and adapted to overlie the heel, shank and fore-part of the insole similar to the base l@ in the previous form of the invention. rI'he base IQ in this form however is not provided with an opening in the heel portion for relieving a painful region or for correcting a malformation of the foot as in the previous form of `the invention and for this reason the arch support in the present form does not include the upper and lower plies l5 and I1 as in the previous form of the invention. The base Il? is similarly recessed along the inner side edge thereof as at 26 and is provided with a semi-circular pad 27 similar to the pad 2) in the previous form of the invention adapted to support the inner longitudinal arch of the foot and also secured upon the upper face of the base l0 is a pad 28 which is similar to the pad 2l and adapted to support the metatarsal arch of the foot.

The base is maintained in longitudinal arched formation by means ef bowed leaf springs 29 and 30 which are fashioned of resilient spring metal or equivalent material and are secured by rivets 3l to the under-face of the base I and extend from the juncture of the 'neel and shank portion of the base forwardly thereof along the opposite side edges of the base in underlying relation with the inner and outer longitudinal arches of the foot. in this form ofthe invention a transversely extending bar 32 is secured by rivets 33 to the underside of the base li! at the forward ends of the leaf springs 29 and 3). The said bar underlies the metatarsal arch of the foot and is located substantially medial of the pad 28. The said bar is provided with a rear edge 34 which is located substantially at right angles to the under-face of the base 25 and forwardly thereof the said bar slopes to the forward edge thereof dening a bar of tapered formation in cross-section which supports the metatarsal arch and shifts the weight to a point slightly posterior thereof. This form of the invention is similarly provided with upper and lower plies 35 and 3S which are adhesively secured to the upper and lower surfaces of the base 25.

What is claimed is:

l. In an arch support, a base coextensive with and adapted to overlie the heel, shank and forepart of the insole of a shoe, a pair of bowed leaf springs secured to the underside of said base and extending along each side thereof in underlying relation with the inner and outer longitudinal arches of the foot, said base having an opening therethrough in the heel portion thereof, a pad of resilient compressible granules adhesively bonded together and filling said opening, and upper and lower plies secured to the upper and lower faces of the heel portion of said base and covering the opposite faces of said pad and providing a cushion for relieving the weight from a portion of the foot of the wearer and with the weight on the heel portion of the support disposed on the area surrounding said opening.

2. In an arch support, a base coextensive with and adapted to overlie the heel, shank and fore-part of the insole of a shoe, a pair of bowed leaf springs secured to the underside of said base and extending along each side thereof in underlying relation with the inner and outer longitudinal arches of the foot, said base being inwardly recessed along the inner side edge of the shank portion thereof, a pad having a convex upper face and secured to the upper face of said base with the side edge thereof projecting outwardly lbeyond the recessed edge portion of said base and with the upper face of said pad sloping from the inner edgeof the base towards the outer longitudinal edge of said base and a resilient pad secured upon the upper face of said base in overlying relation with the forward ends of said leaf springs and adapted to underlie the metatarsal arch of the foot.

3. In an arch support, a base coextensive with and adapted to overlie the heel, shank and forepart of the insole of a shoe, a pair of bowed leaf springs secured to the underside of said base and extending along the opposite side edges thereof respectively in underlying relation with the inner and outer longitudinal arches of the foot, a bar extending laterally of said base and secured to the underside thereof at the forward ends of said leaf springs, said bar tapering in cross-sectional configuration from the rear to the forward edge thereof for supporting the metatarsal arch of the foot and shifting the weight trans-mitted by said arch to a point slightly posterior of the arch, said base being inwardly recessed along the inner side edge of the shank portion thereof, a pad having a convex upper face and secured to the upper face of said base with the side edge thereof projecting outwardly beyond the recessed edge portion of said base and with the upper face of said pad sloping from the inner edge of the base towards the outer longitudinal edge of said base and a resilient pad secured upon the upper face of said base in overlying relation with the forward ends of said leaf 5 springs and adapted to underlie the metatarsal arch of the foot.

4. In an arch support, a base coextensive with and adapted to overlie the heel, shank and forepart `of the insole of a shoe, a pair of bowed leaf springs secured to the underside of said base and extending along each side thereof in underlying relation with the inner and outer longitudinal arches of the foot, said base being inwardly recessed along the inner side edge of the shank portion thereof, a pad having a convex upper face and secured to the upper face of said base with the side edge thereof projecting outwardly beyond the recessed edge portion of said base and with the upper face of said pad sloping from the inner edge thereof towards the outer longitudinal edge of said base, a resilient pad secured upon the upper face of said base in overlying relation with the forward ends of said leaf springs and adapted to underlie the metatarsal arch of the foot and a ply overlying the upper face of said base and said pads and extending forwardly beyond the forward end of the base.

CHARLES C. EDINGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,470,618 Craine Oct. 16, 1923 1,962,527 Ringle June 12, 1934 815,897 Arrowsmith Mar. 20, 1906 2,063,625 Rigand Dec. 8, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 386,037 Great Britain Jan. 12, 1933 

